San Diego County is one of the most diverse of geographic areas. From the beauty of the coastal Chaparral to the grandeur of the Peninsular Ranges this county has a huge selection of land forms that provide an incredible variety of places to hike. Our hiking guides have chosen a few of their favorite hikes to share with you. We also include a 4 hour hike as part of our combo package. For ALL of our backcountry hikes you will need a pair of stout shoes with socks,a sun-hat and a wind-jacket. A shirt with long sleeves will aid in avoiding the fierce sun. Your guide will carry a first-aid kit and a small emergency kit.You will be given a bottle of drinking water at the trail-head. You may need a small day pack for sweaters and other small items.It is a real pleasure for us to share these hikes with you.

MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK
This large urban park set in the most beautiful areas of the upper reaches of the San Diego river is our first choice for a local hike.We also include it in our Combination Package. It is a round trip of six miles and has an elevation gain of nearly 1000 ft. This is our favorite Half-Day, 4 hour,hike and one of our favorite places to birdwatch.We start at the old Padres Mission Dam (Built 2 centuries ago) and hike up Oak Canyon to the bottom of Fortuna Mountain. Sycamore trees,Cottonwood trees and a variety of Oak trees shade this canyon and a small stream flows in season.In the Springtime these valleys are thick with lush grasses and a host of wildflowers. We have seen Mule deer here.Here also are the reminders and ancient artifacts that speak to us of the time when this land was once the favorite summer land of the Kum-ay-ay Indian Band.

The trail turns left at the head of the canyon and the ascent starts here.We slowly climb up through the Chaparral and wind our way up to the saddle of the ridge where we make a sharp turn towards the summit. The reward for the climb is the incredible view. One can see all the way down into Mexico and far inland to the highest peak in the county. On a clear day one can also see 60 miles out to San Clemente Island.We usually descend via the east side of the sister peak on South Fortuna.

Start your Adventure

OTAY MOUNTAIN TRUCK TRAIL
To the north of the Mexican border lies the wildlife reserve of Otay Peaks and the truck trail on it's western flank makes a very wonderful hike up to the top of this 3000 ft peak.We access this high place from a small area called Pio Pico. Governor Pico was the last Hispanic Governor in the "Province de California Norte " at the end of the Mexican American war of 1848 . The trail winds its way up through native Chaparral as we climb up and over the ridges above Lower Otay reservoir.This is a 6 hour hike and has an elevation gain of 2600 ft.It is 7 miles round trip.The western slopes of the mountain are open to the cool prevailing wind off the Ocean and the soaring birds know this area well. Ever seen a raven fold up his wings and tumble 500 ft out of the blue sky, just for the fun of it ? You will on this trip.We have been known to hike down the far side of the Mountain to Engineer Springs just to keep up with the Black-shouldered Kites playing in the open sky. Otay Peak is renowned for it's wildlife viewing opportunities because the many square miles of the Preserve allow for an abundance of wild creatures to remain almost undisturbed. Looking down from the high reaches of this trail will fill your senses and give you the feeling of being "Above it all" for a day.Our decent is usually down the slope known as the Photographer's leap!

Start your Adventure

COOMBE'S PEAK on the PACIFIC CREST TRAIL
The Pacific Crest Trail begins at the southern boundary of the county and it exits on the eastern slopes of Peninsular Range. Before it leaves the county it crosses on the far side of a spectacular 6000 ft peak called Coombe's Peak near the Terwilliger Valley at the head of the Anza Trail. Spanish explorer Sebastian de Anza forged a trail across the desert over 300 years ago and the trail bears his name still. We don't know who "Coombe" was but the peak that bears his name is one of the most remote and beautiful hikes in the County. This is an 8 hour trip including a 4 hour hike and it climbs far up over the snow line in the winter. In the summer the hot winds shriek from the desert floor as if from a blast furnace. Participants need to be appropriately dressed and prepared for this High Mountain climb.

Our Adventure begins in the little country town of Warner Springs which is a 2 hour car ride from San Diego. We visit the beautiful Spanish Mission style chapel with it's old Native American cemetery adjacent, just outside the village, and learn about the Pala Indian Band's own version of their "Trail of Tears ". Then we ride up through the montane pine forest towards the highest peaks in San Diego county. We pass through pine and juniper forest to Indian Flats and halt near Pillar Rock where we have seen mountain lion tracks and wild horses.We break for morning coffee in the quiet of these high forests and then proceed onwards to the trail that leads to the divide.Here on the high watershed we can see down into the scorching desert from a vantage point 5000 ft above it and here we start our hike along the most remote portions of The Pacific Crest Trail. We are nearly 2 miles high and the air has the tang of the mountains.It is several twisting miles along this scenic and well maintained trail to the main pass across the range.The final 1000ft climb to the summit is a stiff scramble but the rewards for our effort and the view from the top are nothing short of magnificent.On a clear day we have seen the mountains north of Los Angeles and also looked far down into the highlands of Baja California.We will sign the summit ledger and put our names into the summit box.
A picnic lunch on the high Mountain has a special flavor. On our drive back to San Diego we may stop for supper in a quaint little Mexican Cafe at Sunshine Summit where we have come to enjoy the enchiladas, homemade tortillas, frijoles and the warm fire-place.

Start your Adventure

CARIZZO GORGE RAILWAY and the HIGH TRESTLE BRIDGE
In 1925, searching for a trade route to the east and eager to put their town on the map, San Diego entrepreneur John D Spreckles and partners completed what has become known as "The Impossible Railroad." It nearly bankrupted them. Some 50 miles to the east of San Diego on the floor of the Sonoran Desert this magnificent railroad turns from it's path across the desert and starts to climb 4000ft over the Peninsular Mountain range.

In 1976 Hurricane Kathleen blasted an enormous flash flood across this entire valley and a few years later the railroad company gave up the exorbitant cost of maintaining such an expensive railway.The whole enterprise was abandoned. The result of these mishaps is that we can now walk along and explore what is a stunning display of engineering work and a marvelous example of a Western Railroad. This extraordinary feat of early 20th century daring and sheer audacity in the face of nearly overwhelming natural constraints, has resulted in one of the most magnificent sights to be seen in all of San Diego County. The Carizzo Gorge Trestle Bridge. Several times during the winter months we organize a hike along this extraordinary right of way.

In it's heyday, this railway must have been a noisy bustling place, but now, at the beginning of the 21st century it has become a ghost of the past and all that can be heard of that fearsome "Iron Horse" is the endless sound of the haunted wind as it blows across the burning desert floor.If you sit quietly by yourself,on the hot rails in the desert sun, it is almost possible to hear the ringing sound of the spike hammers as the old time railway men do maintenance on the old rail bed......almost possible...

This hike that we do at the Marco Polo Connection, is a12 miles round trip through the desert and takes the best part of an 8 hour day plus driving time.It will take 10 to 12 hours from San Diego.We meet early in the morning in San Diego at a prearranged point, and car shuttle or ride in our transportation van out to the far side of The Devil's Canyon on the road to El Centro.We then drive for several miles across the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to the springs at Dos Cabezas.From here we walk along the railbed for 6 miles, high above Carizzo Gorge, until we come to the giant 500 ft high wooden trestle bridge across Goat Canyon. There is very little elevation gain.Be prepared to walk for several hours in the hot sun.

The railway, it's tunnels and hanging trestles are a sight to behold. We marvel at the ingenuity of the original builders and the sheer pluck that enabled these men to overcome these "Impossible" engineering feats.In one case 50 year old railcars lie strewn across the hillside ,left, just as they fell. For our return we either climb up the old prospecting trail and take a direct route back to the transport or we retrace our steps. Sometimes we stop in,on the way back, at the old country cafe in Pine Valley just because we like Biscuits and Gravy "countrystyle".

Start your Adventure

back | on to rappelling